The 20th century saw an explosion in our knowledge of the universe that we inhabit. In particular, our understanding of its birth and evolution based on the "Big Bang" theory clearly points towards underlying connections between the very large and the very small scales. Thus, it is important that the particle and nuclear scientists on the one hand, and the astronomers/astrophysicist on the other, keep track of developments in each other's fields to better advance their own into the 21st century.

The objective of the Institute for Particle, Nuclear and Astronomical Sciences (IPNAS) at Virginia Tech is to facilitate communication between the two groups, and to foster and nuture collaborations and cross-fertilizations among the research groups in particle & string theory, experimental nuclear & particle physics, experimental neutrino science, and astronomical sciences that are spread out among various departments and colleges throughout the University. Over the years, the name of the Institute has evolved from the "Institute for High Energy Physics" (1987) to the "Institute for Particle Physics & Astrophysics" (1995), and then to the current "Institute for Particle, Nuclear, & Astronomical Sciences" (2006) to reflect the ever expanding fields sheltered (and to be sheltered) under the Institute's umbrella.

For instance, in 2005, two faculty from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering joined the astronomical sciences group of the Institute, extending the membership beyond the College of Science. This inter-college collaboration is involved in on-going radio astronomy instrumentation research and radio astronomy observations (ETA).

The experimental nuclear & particle physics, and the neutrino science groups of the Institute are currently working on the following projects: The experimental particle physics group studies b-quark interactions and especially CP violation in the third generation of quarks (Belle). Results may provide an answer to the "baryogenesis problem" or why no primordial anti-matter from the "Big Bang" remains. A new and very accurate measurement of the rare pion decay into positrons that can test recent predictions has just started. The experimental nuclear physics group is involved in experiments to study fundamental symmetries in neutron decay and thus CKM unitarity (UCNA). The scattering of polarized electrons from protons (G0, Qweak) and polarized gamma rays from polarized protons and deuterons (LEGS) provides sensitive tests of the standard model of cosmology and the unified weak, electromagnetic, and strong interactions. Detection of solar neutrinos from the pp chain (LENS) and ⁷Be decay (Borexino) by the neutrino science group measures the fundamental parameters of neutrino mixing as well as the standard solar model. The results of all these experiments will provide important clues to the particle & string theory group in its attempt to understand the structure of the universe at both ends of the scale.

The present IPNAS has the following major components: experimental and theoretical particle and nuclear physics, and astronomical sciences. Its goal is to collectively provide a strong presentation to the outside research communities and funding agencies. Internally, the goals are to promote common interests and an atmosphere conducive to creative research. The IPNAS achieves its goals through a variety of means including seminars, both formal and informal. Student participation in these seminars is encouraged. Frequently, seminars are presented by graduate students.

The education of graduate students has also been extended beyond the campus. A number of students have been sent to summer schools in advanced topics. This has included particle theory students sent to the Theoretical Advanced Studies Institute (TASI) at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the SLAC Summer Institute (SSI) in Stanford, California, and the Prospects in Theoretical Physics (PiTP) program at the IAS in Princeton, New Jersey. A radio astronomy student carried out his thesis research at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Socorro, New Mexico. A large number of experimental students have carried out their research in-house at national and international accelerator laboratories such as Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Virginia, Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico, the High-Energy Physics Research Organization (KEK) in Tsukuba, Japan, and the Gran Sasso National Lab (LNGS) in Italy.

The Institute faculty have also involved outstanding undergraduate students in their research. In most cases, students were hired with research funds. Many of the best undergraduates have gone on to graduate study and others to successful careers in government-supported labs.

Some Institute faculty are involved in conveying the excitement of frontier research to the general public. This is especially straightforward in astronomy on which the visual nature of the subject lends itself well to interpretation to a lay audience. Thus, the astrophysicists are engaged in frequent school visits, public lectures and observatory group visitations. The astrophysicists conduct about 20 such events per year involving the wider community.

During 2005, which was designated the "World Year of Physics", the Institute co-hosted with the Physics Department a series of Public Lectures and Special Colloquia. (See WYP2005@VT.)